Pure Serene Music-Rural Life
- Poetry of Xin Qiji

《清平乐·村居》

中文原文

茅檐低小，溪上青青草。

醉里吴音相媚好，白发谁家翁媪？

大儿锄豆溪东，中儿正织鸡笼。

最喜小儿亡赖，溪头卧剥莲蓬。

English Translation

The thatched roof is slanting low,

Beside the brook green grasses grow.

Who talks with drunken Southern voice so sweet?

A white-haired man and wife in their retreat.

East of the brook their eldest son is hoeing weeds;

Their second son now makes a cage for hens he feeds.

I like their youngest son who,having nothing done,

Lies by the brook podding lotus seeds one by one.

This lyric depicts a happy family of Southern villagers.

- Last updated: 2024-03-23 10:31:08

Why Chinese poems is so special?: The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.

How to read a Chinese poem?: Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

List of Chinese poets